Accept Cookies

Cookies: How we use information on our website:

We use cookies on our website to make it clear, useful and reliable. In order to achieve this and to provide certain personalised features we store a small amount of data about you. Find our more here. By navigating from the front page to other sections of our website, you are consenting to information being stored.

What is a Buddy?

 

“A Professional Friend”

A buddy is a peer; a fellow resident doctor who offers informal, practical, and emotional support during your transition to life and work in Northern Ireland.

 

A buddy can:

  • Be someone to talk things through with
  • Provide clarity and answer questions
  • Help someone new to NI navigate a new healthcare system and a new place
  • Share lived experience and practical tips
  • Support problem‑solving in a new environment

 

 

Why does the Buddy Scheme Matter?

Benefits for New Resident Doctors:

  • Faster understanding of systems and expectations
  • Reduced anxiety during transition
  • Practical support beyond work
  • Early social and professional connections
  • Stronger sense of belonging

Benefits for Buddies:

  • Development of leadership and mentoring skills
  • Enhanced empathy and communication
  • Contribution to a supportive professional culture
  • Recognised activity for portfolios and ARCP

 

 

How does buddying work?

  • Your buddy will be there to answer some of the initial questions you may have about making the move to NI, e.g. where to live, how to set up a bank account, how rotas work etc.
  • If you are interested in being part of the scheme please complete the relevant sign up form below to provide some background information to aid matching.
  • Once a match has been made, both parties will be informed by email. We would recommend you make contact as soon as possible and agree how you would like to communicate going forward.
  • Your match will automatically run for 1 year and you can make as much or as little contact as you both feel appropriate during this time. This may be more frequent in the first few months and reduce as the new resident doctor settles into work and life in NI.

 

If you are a resident doctor who will be new to Northern Ireland and would like a buddy, click through the QR code below to complete the buddy preference form and register for a buddy.


Please note, buddies are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. It is recommended that you register for a buddy before you arrive in NI. For more information on the buddy scheme please see page 10 of the N2NI Handbook below.

 

 

To register as a buddy please click through the below QR code, we would be particularly interested in hearing from those who were previously new to NI. For more information on being a buddy please see the below Buddy Guide.

 

 

Have more questions?


Email: n2ni.nimdta@hscni.net
Call us: 028 9536 0224